Black Mountain Mates

Nevaeh

        “No…Please, no more.”

                I begged desperately to have him hear me. Currently, I was dragged down the long yellow hallway by my arms. My body thrashed to get away, but it did no good.

                “We’re doing this for your own good. We’ll drown that devil out of you, you’ll see. Tonight, is the night, Nevaeh. You will be free tonight.”

                Horror shook through me as I looked up to the horrid man who has fostered me for the past eight years. Parents were supposed to love and protect you, but this man was far from loving. Every full moon since I turned sixteen Gordon and his son, Devon, have tried to drown, burn, or cut the ‘devil’ from me. Tonight, was another full moon, and just happened to land on the night of my eighteenth birthday. The day I could be free of this place. The moment I turn eighteen I could leave and they couldn’t do a damn thing about it. I caught sight of the clock in Devon’s bedroom as we passed by it, eleven fifty-seven. So close…

                When we got to the bathroom Devon was there filling up the massive white cast iron tub, glaring at me as I was pulled over to it. I watched him lean over to turn the faucet off.

                “Please, just wait for a little longer and then I can leave. You’ll never have to see me again! Please, don’t do this!” I screamed, but it was useless. Something was wrong with me, I get that. I’ve never felt normal, but this was excessive when I can just leave.

                Gordon smiled at me. “It’s alright, darling. This time you are going to be cured of that devil.”

                I felt tears staining my cheeks, Devon held me as Gordon placed his hands on my chest. I felt the cold water touch my back and now it was time to thrash hard. I sucked in a deep breath before my face was submerged under the water. My feet kicked out, and connected with Gordon’s thigh. Devon then held down my thighs while Gordon kept my chest under with all his weight. I felt my body begin to throb, my chest burned, and I was seeing little black spots over my vision. While something echoed into my mind. I couldn’t tell what though.

                Air slipped out my mouth. I watched the bubbles float to the surface, and that’s when the true panic set in. My body squirmed against Gordons hands, but he didn’t budge. I felt more air leave my body as I reached up to claw down his arms, which didn’t do anything. He was wearing a loose long sleeve shirt for this very reason. More air slipped out and I knew I was definitely going to lose consciousness this time. My vision was going completely black as there was no more air in my lungs. With nothing left I closed my eyes.

                Right before I was gone completely my chest felt like it broke. I could hear what sounded like breaking bones, then my entire body felt like it was on fire. I opened my eyes and screamed out in pain. I slammed my hands on the side of the tub as my skin felt like it was melting off.

                “See, son! I told you the devil was in her! Her violet eyes tell the world she isn’t right! Don’t let your faith fail you now! Get out of this girl, devil! She is in the house of the lord!” Gordon yelled loud enough for me to hear under water.

                I could have sworn my skin was peeling under the water, then a loud ting echoed through my ears. I screamed at the burning sensation all over my body, and then I saw bubbles begun to rise from me. The water. The water was…boiling. I let out one last scream as I felt my chest nearly collapse.

                Suddenly the tub cracked, spilling water onto the tile floor before everything around me fell apart. Gordon slipped and went down while my body fall onto the broken pieces of tub. I coughed, gasping for air before seeing the doorway. I scrambled to my feet, slipping once or twice on the water before making it back into the hallway.

                “Devon! Go get her! There is one last way we can get the devil out of her. We’ll purify her.” Gordon called to his son.

                I wasn’t going to stick around for that. My feet carried me down the hall and through the kitchen. All I needed to do was make it to the back door, something told me to get outside in the moon’s light. I fumbled with the handle, getting it opened and moving through it. My whole body was wet and steaming, but all I needed to do was get away. I was out and in the ally running for my life. My bare feet tore up the asphalt as I rounded a corner, having no idea that Devon was right behind me.

                His weight was thrown into my back, sending me forward onto my hands and stomach. I cried out in pain as I rolled over to see him take off his belt.

                “We’ll get the devil out of you one way or another.” He said wrapping the leather around one wrist.

                I shook my head. “Don’t do this.”

                He knelt down in front of me, snapping the belt. “I’m going to finally show you the light of god.”

                “f**k you.” I shook my head while trying to move away from him.

                Devon’s hand grabbed my ankle, but I struggled against him the best I could. He was stronger, effortlessly yanking me under him, causing me to cry out from the pain my body was experiencing. There was a weird feeling in the pit of my stomach, something was happening and I didn’t know what it was.

                ‘Can you hear-‘

                Devon yanked my pants down to my knees before leaning forward to press the belt into my throat. “I’ll either put god into you, or satisfy that devil inside you. I don’t care wither way.”

                I couldn’t breathe, more so than when I was under water. The leather was tight against my throat, and I had no way of getting Devon off me. I felt his hands go to my center making tears fall out of my eyes. Maybe this was it. Maybe this is what was meant to happen to me, I’ll finally die and be rid of this place. Honestly, I welcomed death.

                ‘Not yet.’

                Suddenly, I felt an explosion happen within me and Devon was nowhere to be seen. I looked down to my body to see it smoldering. My hands were bright white, flames licked my skin, but it didn’t hurt. I slowly got to my feet to see them too were like my hands, leaving flames and ash under my feet.

                “What’s happening to me?” I whispered, noticing a burnt-up body off to my right, Devon. “Holy hell…”

                ‘So, you’ve finally awakened, Dire Witch.’

                Then my entire world went black…